What is Power BI Funnel Chart?
A Power BI Funnel chart is a data visualization tool primarily used to visualize any linear process that has various sequential connected stages. This chart has a resemblance to the shape of a funnel from top to bottom. Each of these shapes represents a stage, where the top stage is the largest and the bottom one is the smallest. The largest or the top stage is called the intake stage. As you move from top to bottom, the size gradually decreases in size, i.e., sequentially narrows down, similar to a funnel. Each stage of a funnel chart represents a portion as compared to the total value.
A Power BI Funnel chart is used in tracking metrics, especially the stage-wise progress of any process.
For example, you are tracking customer conversion through different stages of the sales lifecycle or any campaign. It provides you with a holistic view of each of the stages, thereby enhancing the decision-making process on any of the stages of your processes. With a Funnel chart, you can perform multiple activities such as data sorting, data highlighting, cross-filtering, and even displaying multiples on the same report.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Power BI Funnel chart is helpful for tracking metrics, especially stage-wise progress of any process, such as sales or marketing campaigns.
- Power BI Funnel charts have a shape similar to a funnel, and each of the stages in this chart represents a percentage of total values.
- You can create a Funnel chart in Power BI Desktop and apply customization related to the look and feel of the chart, Q&A, conditional formatting, and other formatting options.
- A funnel chart also allows you to apply data sorting, highlight, and cross-filter options.
Features
Power BI Funnel charts have multiple features. Depending on the visualization requirements, you can use them. Some of the key features are highlighted below:
- Linear Process: You can visualize any linear processes using the Funnel chart. Using this feature, you can display the development of any sequential data and identify any bottlenecks.
- Chart Shape: Funnel charts resemble funnel shapes, with the largest shape being the top stage and the narrowest shape being the bottommost stage.
- Stage Progression: Each stage represents a percentage of the total. It enables you to visualize any data where you expect the percentage to gradually slow down from the first stage to the last stage of the process.
- Additional Features: Funnel charts provide a high level of user interactivity through sorting the values, highlighting any specific contents, or cross-filter. You can also drill down the data to the granular levels for any analysis.
In the next section, we will see how you can create a Power BI Funnel chart.
How to create Power BI Funnel Chart?
To create a Power BI Funnel chart, follow the instructions outlined below:
Step 1: Open Power BI Desktop on your system. Load the dataset into the Power BI using the Get data option
Step 2: Navigate to the Visualizations pane and select the Funnel icon
Step 3: Map the data fields from the Data pane to the Category, Values, and Tooltips in the Visualizations pane.
- Category represents each of the stages in the funnel
- Values represent the numeric values to plot
- Tooltips represent the additional data that you can see when you hover over the visualization
Step 4: Once the mapping is completed, you will be able to view a Funnel chart in the report canvas.
Note: Power BI does not allow you to create a Power BI Funnel chart two measures for your reporting requirements.
How to customize Power BI Funnel Chart?
You can customize the Power BI Funnel Chart by following the instructions outlined below:
Step 1: Open the Power BI Funnel Chart in the Power BI Desktop
Step 2: Select the Funnel chart and navigate to the Format your visual tab in Visualizations pane
Step 3: Choose the Colors of the chart and customize Data labels such as positions, Font size, backgrounds, etc. under the Visual tab.
Step 4: Turn on the Category labels and Conversion rate labels sliders to apply specific customization changes.
Step 5: Navigate to the General tab under the Visualizations pane to specify additional customization features. It will help you to apply the Power BI Funnel chart left align to your reports.
Step 6: You can apply Power BI Funnel chart order, i.e., sort the chart in an ascending or descending manner by choosing the Sort axis option.
Step 7: Click on one of the stages to highlight the chart and view the details of that stage.
Note: You will notice the Power BI Funnel chart with the total in the report canvas.
In the next section, we will go through some examples to demonstrate how to create and customize the Power BI Funnel chart.
Examples
In this section, we will demonstrate the Power BI Funnel chart through 3 different examples.
Example #1 – Funnel Chart in Q&A
In this example, we will demo a Funnel chart in Q&A using Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service. For this demo, we will use the FunnelChart _Opportunity Analysis dataset that contains the sales opportunity details through different sales stages.
To set up a Power BI Funnel chart in Q&A, follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Import the FunnelChart_OpportunityAnalysis dataset in Power BI Desktop using the Get data option and load it into Power BI.
Step 2: Navigate to the Visualizations pane, select the Funnel visual icon, and drag and drop the data fields from the Data pane to the Category and Values sections.
Step 3: Navigate to the Format your visual tab to customize the Power BI Funnel chart.
Once the changes are done, you’ll be able to view the Funnel chart in report canvas.
Step 4: Click on the Publish feature on the Home tab for publishing to Power BI Service.
Once the report is published, you will get a confirmation.
Step 5: Log into the Power BI Service and create a dashboard by pinning the Funnel chart visuals to the dashboard tiles.
Step 6: Click on Ask a question about your data option on the dashboard.
Step 7: Select one of the options from the highlighted texts. Alternatively, you can also type your specific questions in the search box.
Step 8: Based on the questions, Power BI Service will chart a visual based on the dataset.
Example #2 – Funnel chart conditional formatting
In this example, we will demo the Power BI Funnel chart with conditional formatting. For this demo, we will use the user_data_funnel dataset. user_data_funnel contains data from an e-commerce platform based on the flow of users on their platform alerts.
To create a Funnel chart with conditional formatting options, follow the instructions highlighted below:
Step 1: Import the user_data_funnel dataset into Power BI using the Get data option. Click on Load to load data into Power BI.
Step 2: Navigate to the Visualizations pane and choose the Funnel visual icon. Drag and drop the data fields from the Fields pane to the Category and Values section.
It will create a Funnel chart in the report canvas.
Step 3: Navigate to the Visualizations pane and expand the Colors section under the Visual tab. Click on the fx icon to apply conditional formatting.
Step 4: Configure the color rules in the Default color – Colors screen. Once the changes are done, click on the OK button.
Here, we have defined the format style as Gradient and conditional formatting based on the stage count parameter. Additionally, we have configured a middle color for our visual.
Step 5: Once you complete the configuration, based on the conditions defined, the Funnel chart will be color-coded accordingly. Based on the conditions we have defined, our Funnel chart looks like below.
You can also change the colors of your Funnel chart.
Step 6: Navigate to the Format your visual tab and customize the look and feel of the Funnel chart.
Example #3 – Show/Remove percentage
In this example, we will create a Funnel chart using the Sales_Funnel dataset to show or remove percentages. Sales_Funnel dataset contains sales opportunity details for different products including the sale status for targeted customers.
To create a Power BI Funnel chart, follow the steps outlined below.
Step 1: Import the Sales_Funnel dataset into Power BI Desktop and load it into the Power BI.
Step 2: Navigate to the Visualizations tab in Power BI. Choose the Funnel visual icon to create a Funnel chart. Map the data fields to configure the chart in the report canvas.
Step 3: Select the Funnel chart and navigate to the Format your visual tab. Expand the Data labels section available under the Visual tab. Click the Label contents dropdown and choose either Percent of first or Data value, percent of first option.
It will add a percentage to the Funnel chart visual in addition to Data values.
Step 4: Repeat the same step. However, instead of choosing the percent option just choose the data value from the Label contents dropdown. This will remove the percentage from the Funnel chart.
Important Things to Note
- Validate if you are using a dataset that has sequential and linear stages to apply a funnel chart.
- Certain features, such as Q&A, require a Power BI Pro or Premium license.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can customize the appearance of the Funnel Chart by following the instructions below:
• Create a new Funnel Chart or open an existing one in Power BI Desktop.
• Select the chart and navigate to the Format your visual tab under the Visualizations pane.
• Choose the various customization options such as Colors, Data labels, Category labels, Conversion rate labels, and other features including the look and feel, font and headers, etc. for your Funnel chart.
Power BI drill-down functionality works for any hierarchical dataset. So if your funnel chart has any hierarchy or category dataset, then you will be able to drill down into specific stages of the Funnel chart. For non-hierarchical datasets, this functionality will not be available in Power BI.
Funnel Charts are typically used for tracking any customer conversion as part of any sales lifecycle stages marketing campaigns or similar activities. It serves a very specific purpose for data visualization requirements. For this visualization to work, you need a linear process that is sequential and staged progression. Hence, all types of datasets will not fit into this visual model. Also, you need to evaluate whether the funnel chart data visualization is fit-for-purpose for your audience before you start using it and may require specific use cases for your reports.
Power BI provides a feature called Tooltips which you can add to your Funnel chart visual in Power BI. Tooltips are primarily designed to add additional information or data fields that you want your users to view when they hover their mouse on a visualization in report canvas.
To add tooltips to your visual, navigate to the Visualizations pane. Choose the Funnel visual and drag and drop the fields from the Data pane to the tooltips section. It will ensure when you hover your mouse over the different stages of the Funnel chart, you will view the information mapped to the tooltips section.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Power BI Funnel Chart. Here we explain how to create & customize funnel chart in power bi, with features, examples and points to remember. You can learn more from the following articles –
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